Spring Practice Complete Preview

Backup QB Highsmith to see time - Heather Dinich, Espn
Miami quarterback Jacory Harris will participate in some non-throwing drills during spring practice as he recovers from surgery on his throwing hand.
When the Hurricanes open the spring season Tuesday, most of the throws will be handled by returning backup A.J. Highsmith and incoming freshman Stephen Morris, coach Randy Shannon said, and they'll essentially be competing for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart this fall.

"Going to be kind of a bad, but a good situation just to find out who is going to be our No. 2 quarterback," Shannon said Monday. "With Jacory not going to be able to participate as far as actually running plays, you'll find out on developing a No. 2 guy, which is very key to the stages of getting your football program ready."

The Hurricanes were 9-4 last season, with Harris throwing for 3,352 yards and 24 touchdowns. He struggled with a sore thumb much of the second half of last season, and had surgery Jan. 6.

UM set to open spring football practices -  Shandel Richardson, Sun Sentinel

After having so much turnover on their coaching staff, the Hurricanes are hoping stability can lead to a productive spring
 
A meeting between players their new coaches has become a recent norm at the University of Miami during the spring.

Significant staff turnover has marked Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon's first three seasons, but things have stabilized this year. A fairly quiet offseason in terms of coaching changes has made today's start of spring practices less of an adjustment period. The 15 days of practices conclude with the spring game March 27.

"It's great for us, having two coordinators that are back," Shannon said. "You have some players understanding the full board of what we need to get done. The mindset is they can go in and know to expect out of coach [Mark] Whipple and [John] Lovett."

This marks the first season under Shannon the Hurricanes enter with the same offensive and defensive coordinators as the previous year. Last year they had to replace Bill Young and Patrick Nix. Young left for Oklahoma State, while Nix was fired. In 2007, defensive coordinator Tim Walton and wide receivers coach Marquis Mosely were fired.

The only departures this year were running backs coach Tommie Robinson and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt leaving for jobs with the Arizona Cardinals and Louisville. Shannon said it will create a more familiar environment, with players already accustomed to the staff.

"Last year [the coaches] didn't know anyone's athletic ability," Shannon said. "Coach Whipple coming from the NFL to college, the speed difference you really don't know until you get involved. Then you go from the standpoint of coach Lovett, he's trying to recognize and figure out guys. Right now, both have a good mindset of what our players can do after a year of going through the whole process of coaching offense, defense and evaluating."

Shannon even hired two coaches with UM ties to replace Robinson and Hurtt. Rick Petri, who was on staff from 1993-95, returns to coach the defensive line. Mike Cassano, a former Hurricanes graduate assistant, will coach the running backs.

"I worked with both of the coaches so it's nothing new to me," Shannon said. "I worked with coach [Rick] Petri when I was here and he had Warren Sapp, Kenard (Lang), Kevin Patrick, Kenny Holmes and those guys who back then were very productive. It's great to have an opportunity to get him back at Miami. He's a proven commodity. Coach Cas has always been a great recruiter, great coach."

With the team not dealing with as much change, it should allow more time to focus on more important issues. Quarterback Jacory Harris will miss the spring after having offseason hand surgery. A.J. Highsmith, Spencer Whipple and freshman Stephen Morris will take most of the reps. All are in competition for the No. 2 job.

"It's also a bad but good situation to find out who is our No. 2 quarterback with Jacory [Harris] not being able to participate, running plays," Shannon said. "He will be doing drill work but won't be throwing the ball. We'll find out on developing a No. 2 guy, which is very key to the stage of getting you football ready."

Stability on staff should make spring more productive - Shandel Richardson, Sun Sentinel

Change is often said to be good.

But too much can take its toll. The UM football program knows that. After having several staff changes under coach Randy Shannon, especially at the coordinator spots, the Hurricanes finally have some stability. When spring practices open Tuesday, it will mark the first time both coordinators have been on the field for consecutive seasons.

This is important because there is no adjustment period for the coaches and players. The focus is growth instead of learning.

“It’s great for us, having two coordinators that are back,” Shannon said. “You have some players understanding the full board of what we need to get done. The mindset is they can go in and know what to expect out of coach (Mark) Whipple and (John) Lovett.

Here are a few other notes from Shannon’s press conference Monday morning

Shayon Green in middle of things as Hurricanes ready for spring practice  - Jorge Milian, PBP

A few notes and thoughts heading into Tuesday’s opening of spring practice at UM:

….Redshirt freshman Shayon Green has never played a down of college football, but he enters spring practice as the team’s starting middle linebacker. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Green injured his knee during fall practice and underwent surgery. With the departure of Darryl Sharpton and the decision by Arthur Brown to transfer, Green moved all the way up the depth chart to No. 1. Whether he can keep hold of the job is another question. “He blew his knee out early so you can’t really give him a fair assessment,” coach Randy Shannon said while meeting with reporters on Monday morning. “He’s a hard worker, a big, big guy that has athletic ability, can run.” The coaching staff considered moving Colin McCarthy to middle linebacker, but would prefer to keep him on the outside. Depending on Green’s performance, that’s subject to change. “We’re giving Shayon his opportunity to play that position,” Shannon said. “After 15 days of spring football, we’ll assess it and reevaluate what we need to get done.”

….Shannon said that linebackers coach Micheal Barrow did not interview at Florida for a job on Urban Meyer’s staff as reported elsewhere.

….Asked if he considered pushing back spring practice so that starting quarterback Jacory Harris could participate as Ohio State did with quarterback Terrelle Pryor, Shannon said: “Nope. You can’t let one person dictate what you want to get done.”

….Fans will get two chances to watch the Hurricanes this spring – a scrimmage at Fort Lauderdale’s Lockhart Stadium on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. and the spring game on March 27. The spring game is expected to be held at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami.

….Chris Ivory is expected to handle short- and long-snapping duties next season. Ivory has been UM’s long snapper for two seasons. Shannon said the No. 3 quarterback will serve as a holder for extra points and field goals.

….Shannon said that UM baseball coach Jim Morris asked if freshman safety Jamal Reid could also play baseball. Shannon declined, saying that Reid, an outstanding baseball player in high school, needed to learn the team’s defense. Shannon did say he was not opposed to Reid playing baseball when spring practice ends.

….Shannon said his overall goal for spring practice is to make his team “tougher”” and promised workouts will be very physical. There will be an emphasis at the end of practices of putting players in positions where they either fail or succeed. “Finishing is the biggest thing,” Shannon said. “Some games [last season] we finished strong. Some games we didn’t have that extra oomph the last two minutes of the game to get us where we needed to be. At the end of practice we’ll put them in situations that , ‘offense we need this done, defense we need this done.’ And whoever doesn’t get it done we’ll know and we can evaluate who we can really rely on at those critical times

Hurricanes' Practice Starts With QB Competition - Solange Reyner, CBS 4

Miami quarterback Jacory Harris will be watching spring practice from the sideline as the Hurricanes look to shore up their backup position.

Harris, a junior, is sitting out as he recovers from off-season hand surgery on his throwing hand. He'll be limited to non-contact and conditioning drills for the 15 practice session, which starts on Tuesday.

His absence is good - and bad - news for the Hurricanes.

"Going to be kind of a bad, but a good situation just to find out who is going to be our number two quarterback," said Miami coach Randy Shannon. "With Jacory not going to be able to participate as far as actually running plays – you'll find out on developing a number two guy, which is very key to the stages of getting your football ready."

Sophomore A.J. Highsmith and newcomer Stephen Morris will compete for that number two spot.

Highsmith, who completed 4 of 6 passes last year for 53 yards, should have a slight advantage because he's been around for an extra season.

"[A.J.] will probably be the guy lining up with the 1s on the first day, but like anything else everybody has to get better. You can't stay the same," Shannon said. "He knows that, he's excited about it and I think the other two guys are excited about it."

Morris, a graduate of Miami Monsignor Pace high school, enrolled early so he could participate in spring practice. He threw for 1,531 yards and 22 touchdowns in his senior high school season.

Other notes from Shannon's press conference on Monday included news that Colin McCarthy will not move to middle linebacker to take over Darryl Sharpton's spot.